Resident: `Duck Crossing` Signs Could Curb Carnage

FORT LAUDERDALE -- The last thing Andre Leto wants to see is another splattered duckling in the street in front of his house. But the city has refused his request to put up ``Duck Crossing`` signs.

Leto says he fears yet more ducks are destined to become road kills.

``I just thought it would be something nice to do for the ducks,`` Leto said of the road signs.

Leto lives in Beverly Heights, a neighborhood just east of downtown`s growing core of highrises. But the neighborhood has seen its share of traffic.

For years, traffic has been increasing as motorists seek short cuts to avoid busy Federal Highway and other clogged arteries. Cars sometimes race down Leto`s Southeast Second Street, which is divided by a canal.

Meanwhile, ducks waddle around the neighborhood, seemingly oblivious to the manmade world around them.

Leto, who has only lived in his home for a few months, said he has found dead ducks in the street on several occasions.

City Public Works Director Richard Brossard said it would not be practical to place duck-crossing signs along the street.

For one thing, Brossard said, ducks are only in the area at certain times of the year. They migrate to other areas for several months, he said.

Also, Fort Lauderdale has about 100 miles of waterways, with roads running along many of them.

``If we do it there, we`d have to do it everywhere else for consistency`s sake,`` Brossard said.

But because speeding motorists seem to be wiping out the ducks, the city likely will put up 25-mph-speed-limit signs sometime this summer, Brossard said.

City Commissioner Cary Keno, however, said he thinks duck-crossing signs are a good idea.

``This is one of those requests that`s very simple, but because of all of the bureaucracy involved, you get 100 reasons why you can`t do it,`` he said. ``What the heck. It seems relatively simple to me.``

Keno said he would pursue the issue with City Manager George L. Hanbury II.